The rain had mostly stopped by now, with only scattered drizzles falling. Xia Qingyu walked out of her room. It was early morning, and as she looked up, she saw a hint of green in the courtyard. A few clusters of peonies beneath the steps had already sprouted leaves, and a few sparse flower buds had appeared on an old apricot tree by the courtyard gate. She smiled slightly and muttered to herself, "Spring returns to the earth, and all things revive. Hmm, this season is not bad; it's a good omen."
Two old women stood by the main gate, dumbfounded, their eyes bulging like those of large goldfish. They stared fixedly at the master and servant trio, their mouths slightly agape as if they wanted to speak, but in reality, no sound came out.
Xia Qingyu walked up to them with her head held high. Seeing them reach out to block her, she asked in surprise, "What are you doing? Your Young Master has already divorced me and demanded I leave before dawn. Aren't you here to supervise and make sure we don't linger? Now that we are leaving, why are you still blocking us?"
The two old women didn't speak, but Xia Qingyu seemed to remember something. She slapped her forehead and said, "I understand, you want to inspect us, right? Afraid I might steal things from the manor? That's truly ridiculous, I..."
She had wanted to say, "Am I that kind of person?" but then she thought about it. Having been divorced in such a miserable and pathetic state, given the personality of the previous owner of this body, if she didn't seek death, this really wouldn't be enough to keep her busy.
So, she neatly untied the large package and placed it on the ground, waving her hand impatiently. "Fine, fine, inspect away. This is all the dowry I brought with me back then. If you don't know what's in it, you can find someone who does to check. Make it quick, we're in a hurry."
"Madam, there is a list for the dowry from back then; it should still be kept in the storeroom."
Bai Wei said softly, and Xia Qingyu's eyes lit up. "Is that so? Then what are we waiting for? Quick, go get it, compare it, and see if there's anything we haven't brought. Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong with you two? Why aren't you moving? So it turns out I've been performing a one-woman show this whole time?"
Xia Qingyu's words seemed to snap the two old women out of it. They looked at each other, and just as one of them was about to speak, a scream suddenly came from afar: "Quick, quick, find a doctor! The Old Madam is not doing well..."
The faces of the two old women changed in unison. Ignoring Xia Qingyu and her two maids, they took off running. Xia Qingyu looked at Bai Wei and Bai Kou. Considering the two maids already knew her identity, she stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "Who is the Old Madam?"
Bai Kou and Bai Wei were almost knocked over by the question. Bai Kou quickly said, "Madam, the Old Madam is the Young Master's grandmother, your grandmother-in-law. Strange, the Old Madam has always been in good health; how could she suddenly be unwell today?"
Bai Wei glanced toward the northeast, where the Old Madam's courtyard was likely located, and sighed. "Now that you are in the manor, everyone dislikes you, and only the Old Madam treats you well. Who would have thought that just as you were about to leave the manor, such a thing would happen? You won't even be able to bid her farewell."
"Is that so? Then let's go take a look quickly."
There is a common saying: a doctor's heart is like a parent's. Besides, this Old Madam sounded like a decent person. So, without another word, Xia Qingyu hoisted the large package onto her back and followed the two old women toward the large courtyard in the northeast.
Bai Kou and Bai Wei were stunned for a moment, but they quickly followed.
In the Marquis's Estate, the courtyard of the Old Madam was in complete chaos.
It was early morning, and the Madams and young mistresses of the manor, as well as several concubines who had borne children, were all in front of Old Madam Yu. The Old Madam liked liveliness, so sometimes when she was in a good mood, even the concubines who were not originally qualified to serve her could come over.
As the saying goes, some are happy while others are sad. Just a short while ago, this spacious room was filled with laughter. Who would have thought that in another courtyard not far away, a woman of noble status was about to become an abandoned woman?
However, this abandoned woman clearly had no self-awareness of being one. Carrying her large package, she followed the crowd into the courtyard. She heard several servants crying and discussing how the Old Madam had been happy and kept the daughters-in-law in her room for breakfast because there was a novel dish on the table that they had never eaten before. Who knew that after only a few bites, the Old Madam, who had been perfectly fine, would suddenly tilt to one side and gasp for air, unable to breathe.
The servants in the courtyard were all pale with fear. Some were already whispering about whether an evil spirit had appeared in the manor. Xia Qingyu understood immediately: the Old Madam was likely suffering from acute laryngeal edema, most likely caused by an allergic reaction, and the culprit was surely that plate of novel food.
She set down the package on her back and said to Bai Kou and Bai Wei, "You two stay here and watch; I'm going in to take a look..." Before she could finish, a burst of crying came from inside the room. She hurriedly opened the package, pushed aside some clothes, fabric, and lists, grabbed the small silver box tucked inside, and ran toward the door.
Although it was chaotic, it was still a Marquis's Estate. Two maids were standing at the door. Seeing Xia Qingyu run over, they hurried to intercept her. They knew that this Madam had caused Concubine Zhen to have a miscarriage yesterday, and the Young Master would likely not go easy on her today. Running over now, she must be here to ask the Old Madam to stand up for her—wasn't this just adding to the chaos?
Thinking this, the two maids reached out to block Xia Qingyu in unison. But they saw this Madam raise the silver box in her hand and shout righteously, "I am here to save someone! Move aside, move aside!"
Save someone?
The two maids couldn't help but be stunned. But then they remembered that this Madam was the daughter of an Imperial Physician. With no idea when a doctor would arrive and the Madams inside in a state of panic, perhaps it was worth a try? It was like seeking medical help in a desperate situation.
Thinking this, the two maids opened the curtain and watched helplessly as Xia Qingyu rushed inside with hurried steps.
"Old Madam... Old Madam..."
As soon as she entered the room, she heard a burst of wailing, followed by another sharp voice shouting, "Old Ancestor, hold on a little longer! Where are the people? Where is the doctor? Why haven't they arrived yet? Useless! Why don't you all hurry out and find a doctor?"
"Hold on, Old Madam, please hold on." Xia Qingyu's ears rang from the shouting. She shouted loudly, and seeing everyone suddenly fall silent and turn around in astonishment, she raised the small silver box in her hand and called out, "The doctor is here."
"The doctor is here? Where?" The woman who had been shouting earlier walked over. Her phoenix eyes were filled with anger, and her willow-leaf eyebrows were arched high. Looking at Xia Qingyu, she said unpleasantly, "What are you still doing here? Seeing the Old Ancestor in this state, are you gloating?"
Who is this? Xia Qingyu was baffled. Looking at the woman's attire, she was clearly a person of status, not a concubine. But it was impossible for Lu Yunxiao to have promoted Concubine Zhen to Main Wife just after she had been divorced, right? Even if she were the Main Wife, hadn't that woman just had a miscarriage? Could she still be here shouting with such vigor?
Sigh! It's hard without the memories of the original owner. Xia Qingyu racked her brain but couldn't find any clues about this woman's identity. She didn't know how to address her. Just then, she heard a choked voice say, "Ying Yatou, don't say any more to her. Quickly, see where the doctor is! Old Madam... Old Madam, please hold on..."
Where is the doctor? This question suddenly reminded everyone. The woman called Ying Yatou looked toward the door, only to see Xia Qingyu pointing at herself: "The doctor is right here. I am the doctor."
"You?" Qin Shuying's expression changed instantly. Thanks to that "Ying Yatou" address, Xia Qingyu finally realized the woman's identity: the wife of the Lu family's second young master, the daughter of the Minister of Rites, and the niece of the Marquis's wife.
Consanguineous marriage, huh. Let's hope the children of this young couple don't have any problems. Xia Qingyu habitually went off-track, but she quickly snapped back: she was here to save someone. At a time like this, if she were a minute late, the Old Madam might stop breathing.
"You are a doctor?"
Qin Shuying asked again. This time, Xia Qingyu finally lost her patience. She nodded and said, "That's right, I am a doctor." She was about to step forward, but Qin Shuying blocked her, gritting her teeth: "I've never heard that you know medical skills. Who knows if you're holding a grudge against us and taking this opportunity to retaliate?"
"Is your brain filled with water?" Xia Qingyu finally got angry. She glared at Qin Shuying and shouted, "I'm taking this opportunity to retaliate? And then watch the Old Madam die and be buried with her? Look at the state the Old Madam is in—do you think I need to wait for an opportunity to retaliate? If the doctor doesn't come soon, she'll be gone!"
"You... how dare you!" Qin Shuying's face turned livid. Before she could finish, Xia Qingyu shouted indignantly, "What's so daring about it? Don't forget who my father is. Just because you haven't heard that I know medical skills doesn't mean I don't. Anyway, you have no other options now. Let me try. The Old Madam still has a glimmer of hope. If you don't let me try, the Old Madam might just..."
Before she could finish, a voice full of surprise came from outside: "Imperial Physician Zhang is here! Quick... please, Imperial Physician Zhang, hurry!"
Oh my, could it be this coincidental?
Xia Qingyu turned around abruptly and saw an old man in official robes, frail and trembling, stepping inside. An old woman followed behind him, saying with joy, "It must be the Old Madam's immense good fortune. Imperial Physician Zhang was here to check on Concubine Zhen. I ran into him just as I stepped out. Imperial Physician Zhang, please, hurry!"
At this, everyone in the room let out a long sigh of relief. Xia Qingyu heard several people chanting Buddhist prayers. Qin Shuying even pushed her aside, glaring at her and scolding, "Still trying to block the way at a time like this? The Madam was right, you are truly heartless and blind."
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Phew, although the new book is still very slim, don't dislike it for being thin. Lean meat is also delicious, right? Besides, you all know my speed; it won't be hard to fatten it up. After posting tomorrow, I should be able to charge onto the new book list, so I'm working hard to ask for Recommendation Tickets and Collection.
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